Replacement Kite Lines

donnieb · Since 12 Sep 2010 8 Posts Kook

What's the best way to replace damaged kite lines? My Ocean Rodeo 21m lines need replaced and the local dealer doesn't seem to be much help. Does anyone repair or make generic ones? Is there an OEM source at Ocean Rodeo? It was much easier to get parts from Slingshot for sure!

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

Hi Donnieb ,
I just looked into that to But , I live in a place where there is a almost non existent kite industry . Anyway I located a business that sells ropes and slings and they were listed as a dealer for dyneema line .
I was told it would have to be ordered and would be a month . Also it comes in a roll of 1000ft and I have to buy the whole roll . $275 can.
So the lines would end up a single color ,big deal .
Point is , it's available in bulk . Just look it up online and go in on it with a few buddies or ....
Good luck
JackZ

undertow · Since 15 Feb 2008 371 Posts BeaversBurg Obsessed

Call John at ocean rodeo in BC , they have great customer service

wylieflyote · Sun Oct 10, 10 4:36 pm

Been thinking of this instead of the $250 ++ purchase from a kite company:
http://www.atafa.com/products/Q_Power_Line_lb_ft-149246.html

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1861 Posts XTreme Poster

From 2001 to about 2005 I always made my own line sets out of 600 lb spectra on spools. It's easy. Make sure you stretch it hard. Figure 8 knots and no sleeving.

Eric

windpig · Since 28 Aug 2008 282 Posts Obsessed

I know Best sells 20m line set for about $100. If they are all the same length then it should be no problem. Air Padre was where I got my set. You can also get 3m extensions from them as well.

Nak · Sun Oct 10, 10 7:41 pm

http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-11649.html

Skip the Q-line. It's great for lots of things, just not so good for kite lines. When you get a spool of spectra, make sure you know it's low stretch. ( Like Jerry Brown.) 2 extra inches of stretch at 30 pounds tension, 20 meter lines, will seriously degrade your kite's flight characteristics. Not just a little bit. A lot.

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

I use Q-powerline and could not be happier with it. Easy make the lines and easy to repair and replace too.

when ever my factory lines fail I convert to Q-powerline.

jeremy · Since 18 Aug 2006 276 Posts Manzo & HR Obsessed

New 20m sets on eBay go for around $75. The Best lines are very good, they are 600lb rated and come in 3, 5, 10, 22, 25m sizes. See:

http://www.bestkiteboarding.com/Performance-Lines?sc=2&category=16

Also on the Best site, looks like they are clearing out their 2009 lines, you can get a nice 20m set for $80, wow !

http://www.bestkiteboarding.com/09-Lines

cosmodog · Since 06 Oct 2005 204 Posts Stoked

I bought a set of Ozone Pro lines - 800lb pre-stretched. They are great lines.
Paid ~$120 for 25m set.

I use Q-Line for my coast bar (20m) - I like the lines because they are thick (better for self landing) but they do stretch.

Nak · Mon Oct 11, 10 12:07 am

Q-line works, but it's an inferior kite line. I did a post a couple of years ago here where I measured breaking strengths & line stretch of different line. The best knot I could do with Q-line was a figure 8. It resulted in a breaking strength of about 220# to 250# as I recall. 800# spectra spliced gives a breaking strength of around 750#. Plus, the knot won't hold in q-line; too slick. Put a heavy load on it and it slowly slips. This has the effect of putting your lines out of tune frequently.

There's different kinds of stretch in flying lines:
1: There's plastic or permanent stretch: the line material itself stretches as a load is applied. This stretch is permanent. For all practical purposes spectra line (including Q-line) will not stretch more once a pre-load is applied, unless the new load exceeds the pre-load. In other words, put a 400# load on a line and it'll take a set, it stretches permanently. now, put a 200# load on it, no plastic stretch.
2: There's semi-permanent stretch. Put a load on a kite line and it'll stretch. take the load off and the line recoils, but not all the way. Let it sit and it slowly recoils back to it's original length.
3: There's elastic stretch. put a load on a kite line and it stretches, remove the load: the amount the line recoils immediately is the elastic stretch. Like a rubber band.

If a kite line is pre-stretched, Plastic stretch can be ignored. If the line isn't pre-stretched, your lines will go out of tune often due to plastic stretch.

Semi-permanent stretch affects the tune of your kite. Your front & rear lines have different loads inflight, therefore they'll take a different "set"; they'll semi-permanently stretch to different lengths.

Elastic stretch affects the way your kite flys. Put a 30# load on a 20m line. 1" elastic stretch is the best I've seen. ( Good 800# braided spectra ) 1.5" is acceptable, but a definite degradation of flight characteristics occurs. (Guess which line... ) 2" to 2.25" and your kite suffers major turn speed impairment. (Cheap, no name 800# spectra. )

It's damn near impossible to properly tune q-line. It has a large amount of semi-permanent stretch under load. Put a load on it and it takes a set stretch. That stretch slowly comes out after the load is reduced. Your front & rear lines have different loads applied during flight; they'll each stretch a different amount. This effect is also present in regular spectra line, but to a far lesser degree. (Assuming a pre-stretched line.) No matter how well you tune q-line, the tune will not hold inflight.

I'm not saying you won't be happy with Q-line, I'm saying you'll be happier with a good braided spectra. A good 800# or even 600# spectra is better in every respect. Stronger, less stretch, both type 2 and type 3 stretch. Spliced lines also walk out easier, as there's no knots. Splices don't slip over time like knots in q-line do.

I'd love to be proved wrong about q-line. But the tests I've done on a test bench and extensive stretch testing have been pretty conclusive. That said, Q-line is better than cheap, no-name spectra.

I'm not dissing anybody that uses q-line, I used it exclusively until I did a lot of time consuming testing. I'm just reporting the results of that testing. Not subjective testing, but controlled tests with objective, measured, results repeated multiple times. As soon as somebody can show me measured, objective test results that differ from mine, I will happily recommend q-line. Until that happens, I gotta say you'll be happier with spliced, pre-stretched, spectra flying lines.

One caveat: I did these tests a couple of years ago. It is entirely possible that q-line has improved since then. I can't speak to that.

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 803 Posts Opinionated

So what is the average life expectancy of kite lines?
How many sessions before you should replace them?
Aside from obvious damage or breakage, when should you start to think about replacing them?

Up to now, I've been fortunate enough to get new kites (better technology) before anything wears out. If you keep your gear longer, what is the first thing that you can expect to replace for preventive maintenance (lines, bridles, trim line, etc).